I will be taking a road trip today.

Packing up the Honda, plugging in the new 80 gig and peeling out. Ahead of us, my best friend Brittany and me, will be about two-and-a-half hours of beautiful Florida highway, some ridiculous singing, a possible caffeine pit stop and a college town, complete with our two other best friends. Yes, Jacksonville, I am calling the next two days a Tallahassee weekend.

And it couldn’t come at a better time. A transitional period always calls for a vacation. Our season will begin soon, within the few months (so be on the lookout for all our upcoming shows!), and with that the sleepy summer will pass. Many nights out of the week will be spent at the theatre, far past the usually 9-5ers. Everyone kicks into high gear, and we all become a little nuttier than before. But that’s the sparkle of working in a theatre; it gets your blood moving and your mind working.

So before that tidal wave comes, I’ll wade myself across the state to spend some quality time with the people I love, but don’t get to see very often anymore. Once we arrive, let the festivities commence. I’m not positive of the agenda for the weekend, but I think the four of us could sit in an empty room and still have fun.

I’m not the only one taking some time off of reality. A trip to Colorado for some…a mini vaca at the beach for another…but like I said it’s about time. Everyone needs to take that sabbatical to preserve what sanity there is left. It helps keep our feet on the ground and our eyes on the prize. To allow yourself to loosen the reigns and wander freely for a while, even if it is only a few days, even if you are only a few miles away from home.

I still know some people who have a full summer vacation, which is totally awesome…for them that is. Since I entered this working world I am in, the phrase summer vacation takes on a different meaning. You learn how to pack all that fun and freedom into a smaller package, like condensed milk. Notice it’s sweeter? Okay so that’s all the added sugar, but you get the point. So my summer vacation will be a weekend in Tallahassee, and you know what, I can’t wait.